Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: Turkey: An Evolving Democracy in the Middle East

For Students 9th - 10th
Activity for students in which they survey historical and current events of Turkey, analyze the intersection of government, democracy, and religion, and finally, identify the criteria of a democratic and stable government. Group and...
Primary
US Government Publishing Office

U.s. Government Publishing Office: Core Documents of u.s.democracy

For Students 9th - 10th
Direct online access to the basic Federal Government documents that define our democratic society, a core group of current and historical Government publications.
Handout
Other

Are We a Democracy or a Republic?

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay on the present political state in America contending the country is leaning further towards a republican form of government instead of a democracy. Defines and explains the major differences between democracy and republicanism...
Primary
Other

The Concord Principles: An Agenda for a New Democracy

For Students 9th - 10th
Read Ralph Nader's views on taking back power from self-serving institutions and the political system. This article written in 1992 sets forth ten arguments of how democracy has been abused and the means by which citizens can regain...
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Lessons From Antiquity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Where did democracy get its start? In this lesson, students learn about direct democracy in Athen's and Rome's republic, how each took shape, and the ideas our Founders borrowed from these great civilizations.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: History of Us: Safe for Democracy?: Wilson's 14 Points [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that directs students to examine Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points. They will discuss how Wilson's plan and the establishment of the League of...
Handout
US Department of State

America.gov: Government of the People: The Role of the Citizen

For Students 9th - 10th
A chapter taken from the U.S. State Department's "Outline of U.S. Government," that focuses on the foundation of American representative democracy. Provides comparison with other democracies, along with the essential role of the U.S....
Website
US National Archives

Nara: Treasures of Congress: Progressive Reform: Direct Election of Senators

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this amazing interactive site that shows you primary documents outlining the 17th amendment proposal (click on any document) for popular election of senators, provided by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Progressive Movement 1890 1920: Progressivism at the Grassroots Level

For Students 11th - 12th
Read about some of the grassroots movements at the heart of Progressivism, and the changes they were pushing for and what they accomplished. Discusses labor issues, including the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Also discusses...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Democracy in the Middle East (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan for exploring where democracy exists in the Middle East and for evaluating the types of political rights that citizens experience in individual Middle Eastern countries. Students will also examine the prospects for...
Article
The Guardian

Guardian: Troops Renew Attacks on Pro Democracy Demonstrators

For Students 9th - 10th
Guardian correspondents Ian Black and Nour Ali discuss the protests occurring in Syria and the Syrian government's reaction to them. (August 9, 2011)
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Who Rules?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learn about the different forms of government that exist, including democracy, autocracy, oligarchy, and others. Compare and contrast these forms, and look at real-life examples in the world today.
Article
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Lebanon, Path of Democracy [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
After the withdrawal of Syrian troops, Lebanon is faced with rebuilding its political structure. Unfortunately the nature of political parties in Lebanon could lead to a power vacuum. This Carnegie paper was written in 2006.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Expansion of the Vote: A White Man's Democracy

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about how the ability to vote changed from requiring the ownership of property to almost complete enfranchisement of white males by 1840. There was disenfranchisment of women and free blacks in the same period of time.
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Declaring Independence: Drafting the Documents

For Students 9th - 10th
This page from the Library of Congress links directly to a chronology of events leading to the declaration of independence from Great Britain, the drafting of the document, and Jefferson's vison as stated in the Declaration of Independence.
Handout
Travel Document Systems

Tds: South Africa: History

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive look at the history of South Africa beginning with its settlement by Zulus and progressing through apartheid to the current strong democracy. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.
Unit Plan
Tom Richey

Tom Richey: Dictatorships and World War Ii

For Students 9th - 10th
World War II was a direct result of the rise of dictators in some European nations. Enhance study with these detailed videos, lessons, and slide shows.
Website
BBC

Bbc World Service: I Have a Right To

For Students 9th - 10th
How well do you know your own rights? This site aims to help people make good choices and understand issues that directly affect them such as freedom, equality, safety, domestic violence, and the law. Choose a human rights case study for...
Interactive
Made From Media

Made From History: The Cold War: 1945 1991 Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive timeline takes learners through the Cold War using images and an animated chronology of events throughout the 50 years.
Website
Other

Hoover Digest: Kuwaiti Complexities

For Students 9th - 10th
A report on the recent election held in Kuwait in July 2004. The author argues that Kuwait is making slow but steady progress in becoming a democracy.
Article
Other

Mother Jones: The Dissident: An Interview With Natan Sharansky

For Students 9th - 10th
Known for his advancement of democracy and human rights, Natan Sharansky, a Ukranian-born Jew and later Prime Minister of Israel, speaks here regarding Arab dissidents, Israel's human rights record, and the prospects for a democratic...
Website
Other

Le Monde Diplomatique: Electing Dictators

For Students 9th - 10th
This site dicusses information about how the people of Africa end up electing dictators and discusses the problems with corrupt and disorganized election processes as well as past issuesconcerning democracy in African countries.
Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Leadership and Government

For Teachers 3rd
A comprehensive learning module on government and how countries get their leaders that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Measure of Self Government

For Students 9th - 10th
Discussion about the measure of government effectiveness as a reflection of the electorate involvement, participation and demand.

Other popular searches